Sheet aligning clamp



Dec. 15, 1964 H. E. ERWIN 3,161,166

SHEET ALIGNING CLAMP Filed Feb. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l INV EN TORHATERW/N BY WM ATTORNEY 3,l6l,lb6 Patented Dec. 15, 1964 3,1613% SHEETALIGNLIG CLAMP Harold E. Erwin, 2117 Missouri St, Keohulr, Iowa FiledFeb. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 253,475 1 Claim. (til. ll3-99) This inventionrelates to an implement of extremely simple construction capable ofbeing readily clamped to adjacently disposed edge portions of two platemembers for holding said plate members in alignment and immovablerelative to one another while the plate members are secured together byas by tack welding.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to providean implement for the afore-described purpose which will effectively movetwo plates into correct alignment with one another and thereaftermaintain the plates in proper aligned relationship while beingpermanently attached to one another, to thereby eliminate the need forwelding elements to the plates and which elements can be engaged bytools or implements used to position and hold the plates, while theplates are being secured together, and which elements must thereafter beremoved from the plates.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an implement whichwill effect a material saving in time and labor involved in fabricatingtanks and other containers and structures from large preshaped rigidmetal sheets or plates.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an implement whichmay be readily released without being disconnected from the plates towhich it is attached for moving the implement to dilferent positionsalong the adjacent edges of the plates being secured together, as theoperation of securing the adjacent plate edges together progresses, tothereby facilitate the fabrication of a tank or other structure.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a plate clampingimplement which may be utilized for correctly aligning plates ofdifferent thicknesses and with desired complementary sides of the platesdisposed flush with one another.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterbecome more fully apparent from the following description of thedrawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, andwherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the plate fabricator in anapplied position clamped to plates which are disposed one above theother for holding the plates correctly aligned with one another whiletheir adjacent horizontal edges are secured together;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional vi w taken substantiallyalong the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view through the implement takensubstantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2,and on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken su stantially along theline 44 of FIGURE 2 and with one of the parts omitted;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, and showingone end portion of the implement;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of the implement looking from rightto left of FIGURES 2 and 5, and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view, similar to FIGURE 1, and showing theimplement applied to two horizontally spaced plates and engagingadjacent vertically spaced edges thereof.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the metal plate fabricatoror clamping and aligning implement in its entirety and comprising theinvention is designated generally It) and includes a section, designatedgenerally ill, and a section designated generally 12.

The section 11 includes an elongated abutment member 13 of hollowrectangular construction in cross section having flat opposite sides 14and 15 which are provided with corresponding transversely extendingaligned openings or slots 16 and 17, respectively.

A lower block 18 and an upper block 19 are secured, as by Welding, asseen at 24 to the outer surface of the side 15. Said blocks 18 and 19are elongated and of rectangular shape and extend longitudinally fromthe abutment member 13. The upper surface 21 of the bottom block 18 isdisposed substantially flush with the bottom surface of the slot 17, andthe bottom surface 22 of the upper block 19 is disposed substantiallyflush with the upper edge of the slot or opening 17, as best seen inFIGURE 2. The upper block 19 has a threaded bore 23 which extends fromtop to bottom therethrough and which is located near the outer end ofsaid block. The upper surface 21 of the lower block 18 has a concavecountersink or depression 24 therein which aligns with the bore 23. Asetscrew 25 is threaded downwardly through the bore 23. Setscrew 25 andthe blocks 18 and 19 combine to form an anchoring unit of the section11.

The section 11 also includes a block or square nut 26 Which is secured,preferably by Welding, as seen at 27, on the upper end of the abutmentmember 13 and which has a threaded bore 28 which extends therethrough ina direction perpendicular to the sides 14 and 15. A screw 29 extendsthreadedly through the bore 28 and has a rounded or hemispherical end 39disposed over the side id and normally setback relative to the outersurface of said side.

The section 12 includes an elongated rigid hollow or tubular body 311having an end wall 32 at one end thereof which is provided with acentral opening 33. The other end of the tubular member 31 is open andis defined by an annular edge 34 which is disposed in a plane normal tothe axis of the member 31. The member 31 is provided with an elongatedlongitudinally extending slot 35 which extends from near the end 34thereof to beyond a midpoint of said member 31. The member 31constitutes the abutment member of the section 12.

The section 12 includes a pulling unit, designated generally 36, whichincludes an elongated bolt or threaded rod 37, constituting a stem,which extends slidably through the end wall opening 33. The bolt 37 hasa head 33 at one end thereof which is reciprocably disposed in thehollow abutment member 31 and which is elongated in a directionlengthwise of said bolt or rod. The head 38 has a recess 39 which opensoutwardly of the end thereof which is disposed remote from the bolt 37and which is of a length preferably somewhat greater than one-half thelength of the head 38 and of a Width nearly equal to the width of theportion of said head in which the recess is formed, as best seen inFIGURE 3, so that said recess is open only at its outer end. The head 38has a transversely disposed threaded bore 40 which opens outwardly of aportion of the periphery thereof and into the recess 39 through one sideof said recess. The threaded bore 40 is disposed perpendicular to therecess 39 and has a setscrew 4-1 threadedly engaging therein and whichprojects outwardly through a portion of the slot 35, in which said screw41 slidably fits. The surface 4?; of the recess 39, located opposite tothe surface thereof through which the bore 49 opens into the recess 39,has a countersink or concave depression 43 which aligns with the boreill. The screws 25 and 41 have rounded or hemispherical leading ends 4and 45, respectively.

5 other, and means carried by said first mentioned abntment member andmanually adjustable for displacing one of said plates away from thefirst mentioned abutment member and toward said second mentionedabutment member for positioning the sides of the plates engaged by thesecond mentioned abutment member in alignment with one another.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSMendive Jan. 4, Mosley June 22, Rose Oct. 3, McDaniel Aug, 20,

